Why the 'Adult Capri Sun' Hack Will Be Your Beach Day Go-To
When the sun hits that sweet spot between 10 and 4 and your toes are in the sand, the only thing that can make your day better is a cold drink in your hand. And leave it to TikTok to make that drink a little more fun with an adult Capri Sun.
The grown-up take on the nostalgic drink pouch is super simple, which made it even more imperative that we try it for ourselves asap. We grabbed the simple ingredients and tested it out on one of the hottest days so far this summer to see how it holds up.
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What Is the Adult Capri Sun?
Making batches of mixed drinks can be hard work. You have to take out the ingredients, shaker, ice, glasses...it's a whole thing. So for those hot summer days when you need things to be simple but still want a fun drink, you need an adult Capri Sun. Users on TikTok are taking a bag of frozen fruit, adding lemonade and vodka, sealing it back up and adding a straw. That's it! They're chilly, fruity and delicious. Really, everything a beach drink should be.
Users online are loving these drinks for so many reasons. For one, the portability factor: "You can take it to the pool cause no glass!" said one person. "Adult juice box!!??New adulting level UNLOCKED ????" said another.
Related: 19 Best Vodka Brands to Sip Straight, on the Rocks or in a Craft Cocktail
How Do You Make the Adult Capri Sun?
Although there's no one recipe to use, the concept is pretty simple: take a bag of frozen fruit, add some lemonade and vodka, poke a straw into the bag and go.
I decided on a blend of pineapple, strawberries, mango and peaches. The bright bag said it served three people but I don't think if I used half the bag it would have been a big deal. This would also be a great way to use up leftover fruit that's been buried in the back of your freezer.
Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel
As far as the lemonade goes, I poured about a cup of lemonade into my bag. And then came the vodka. The term "measure with your heart" has never had so much meaning for me. A lot of the videos (and one in particular) showed a pretty, er, heavy hand when it came to the booze. I kept mine classy(ish) with about two shots of vodka in the entire bag of lemonade and fruit, which could easily serve two people.
You could also easily make this a nonalcoholic sipper with a fun mix of different juices and then topping it with bubbly water when you get to the beach. Pick the version that's right for you and remember to drink responsibly.
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My Honest Thoughts on the Adult Capri Sun
Adult Capri Suns aren't anything new. In fact, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of bars near me were serving similar to-go pouches from walk-up windows (I heart Chicago). And search Etsy or Amazon for "drink pouches" and you'll find everything from cute, customized bags to take to the pool to themed bachelorette bags for parties on the go. However, part of the ease of this recipe is that you can pour everything into the bag, zip it closed and take it to the park, pool, beach or wherever your party is. Because the fruit is frozen already, it chills the drink without diluting it so it lasts a bit longer than your standard mixed drink.
Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel
I did have to snip the bag in order to poke the straw through which was expected—this isn't a bag that's meant for a straw after all. And the bag, while sturdy, has to be held with two hands since it's 16 oz. versus a smaller 6 oz. Capri Sun pouch. It was a hot day when I had mine and the drink was sweating big time so if you need a coaster, you're going to have to find a really big one.
The first sip was straight vodka lemonade. And it was a large sip because I used a bubble tea straw. In fact, the whole bag went down *quite* easily because of the size of that straw. However, I did get tiny bits of fruit through the straw which was nice. I was a bit disappointed with the amount of fruit left over at the bottom that didn't get macerated as I was drinking it, but I'm not going to complain about leftover booze-infused fruit. In fact, sprinkling this fruit over vanilla ice cream or yogurt would make a pretty good treat. The combo I picked was a winning one since the mango and pineapple lent a tropical flavor to the lemonade and was cool and refreshing on a sweltering hot day.
Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel
Related: The One Popular Boozy Drink to Avoid During a Heatwave—and What to Drink Instead
Tips for Making the Adult Capri Sun Even Better
Grab the right kind of bag. If your bag of frozen fruit doesn't have a resealable top (I'm looking at you, Trader Joe's), you may need to transfer your fruit to a gallon- or quart-size freezer bag before making the drink. Not only are the resealable bags a little thicker and sturdier so they won't leak, but they will stand up on their own.
Creativity is key. Don't think you have to stick to boring flavors. use your favorite juice (or even iced tea), your favorite fruit and your go-to spirit. One user even makes a sangria-like dupe, saying "I’ve done it with wine and it is super delish."
Use a quality straw. Now is not the time for those cheap thin striped plastic straws (or even paper straws, sorry). A large bubble tea straw or smoothie straw works best here. You want to be able to poke it through the bag and not have it break or bend since that will definitely ruin the whole Capri Sun effect.
Mix it up (for real). Some commenters on TikTok are getting creative with how they serve these up, suggesting "Hear me out...blend it!" and "Yoooo!!! Never thought of that. You could even blend it and make it a frozen drink ????????"
A Reminder to Drink Responsibly
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention share that an average of six people a day die from alcohol poisoning in the United States.
If you or someone you know need treatment and/or support from alcohol abuse, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has a free, confidential 24/7 hotline you can call: 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Next: Grab a Straw and Return to the Days of 'Liquid Cool' With the Best Capri-Sun Flavors, Ranked